Results of a long-term study of the mechanisms of articular cartilage degeneration in primary osteoarthrosis deformans
Astapenko, M.G.; Kop'eva, T.N.; Fil'chagin, N.M.; Mazina, N.M.; Duliapin, V.A.
Terapevticheskii Arkhiv 54(6): 115-121
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-3660 PMID: 7112408 Document Number: 185026
According to data obtained, the leading mechanism of cartilage degeneration in osteoarthrosis deformans in humans involves quantitative and qualitative changes in proteoglycans of the matrix of cartilagenous tissue. The changes seem likely to be due to primary injury to the cartilagenous cells and collagenous fibers of the superficial layer of the cartilage as a result of its overload. The investigations did not confirm the importance of changes in the synovial membrane or activation of lysosomal enzymes of cartilagenous tissue as primary mechanism by which the degeneration of the articular cartilage occurs during arthrosis. The presence of immunologic responses to proteoglycans of the cartilage during arthrosis was revealed.